That may seem surprising considering how many children’s over-the-counter fever-reducing meds currently exist (not to mention, the flu shot, of which, ironically, fevers and flu-like symptoms are a common side effect…)

As a chiropractor in Charlotte NC who has cared for many small children, I must say I agree with the article. Fevers are actually a healthy immune response to illness, and breaking them could do more harm than good. Here’s why:

Medicines mask symptoms. When symptoms are masked, children feel better. They may not realize just how sick they are, and sickness calls for plenty of rest and fluids. However, if they don’t feel sick, they may be inclined to insist on long periods of play that could drain them of the energy their body needs to heal. Taking medicine to reduce a favor may make your children feel better, and thus make you feel better as a parent in the short-term, but long-term, you could face worse consequences by not letting the fever run its course. Also, if your child (who seems better) is exposed to other kids before they’re fully healed, they could potentially pass on the illness unknowingly.

Fevers catalyze the healing process. A fever is your body’s response to illness. A natural defense mechanism. Evidence shows that it’s actually your body’s way of preventing disease-causing microorganisms from replicating, thus shortening the length of time it takes for your body to heal itself (which it does naturally, most of the time.)

Most fevers are mild. They usually come and go with no complications. Why take a fever-reducing medicine that’s likely to come with a long list of side effects, when you can sweat it out for a few days and strengthen your immune system in the process by letting your fever ride? Moreover, masking the fever symptom with medicine will likely have no bearing on how quickly you recover. In fact, as we mentioned in the previous paragraph, it may actually prolong the process.

A few chiropractic adjustments can go a long way in helping to speed up the healing process when you’re sick. If you or your children are feeling feverish, call us today at (980) 422-2000 to schedule your appointment!

Yoga is a wonderful way to de-stress and detoxify your body. If you’re looking for a form of exercise that will help you build and tone lean muscle, while increasing your flexibility and mental clarity through regular, meditative practice, you may want to consider yoga.

However, studio sessions can be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget, an at-home yoga practice might be your best option. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned veteran, starting an in-home regimen is not very difficult, and you can definitely do it on a tight budget! Here are some tips for starting a yoga practice at home.

#1: First, get all of your gear in order. At the very least, you need a good yoga mat. You may also want to invest in a strap, a bolster, and a pair of yoga blocks. (Those will be extremely helpful if you are not very flexible and just starting out.)

#2: Designate a space in your home to practice on a regular basis. It is best if you lay your mat on a hard surface so that it won’t slip, and make sure you have plenty of room to move and stretch.

#3: Decide how often and when you will practice. And don’t stop there! Put it on your calendar. Making it a task on your to-do list will help you stick to it. There will be days when you’ll wake up and won’t feel like exercising, but try to get in the habit of doing it anyway (unless you’re sick or injured.) Morning yoga is a great way to start your day and get your mind in gear for maximum productivity. Evening yoga is fantastic for winding down after a hard day’s work. You may want to consider your work schedule when deciding whether to practice at sun-up or sun-down, and vary the time according to your expectations for the rest of your day.

#4: Download a program from doyogawithme.com, and use it to guide you through your practice. Do Yoga With Me is a website full of free resources for aspiring yogis! There are tons of tutorials, videos, and programs you can do right in the comfort of your home without spending a dime. However, if you use it regularly and enjoy the videos, we recommend that you make a donation to support the creators and keep the site alive!

#5: Attend a yoga class in person once a month. This is optional, but I highly recommend it, simply because doing yoga in the presence of a professional, certified instructor can be extremely helpful. An instructor can assist you by assessing whether you’re performing certain stretches correctly, thereby helping you achieve more difficult poses with minimal risk for injury.

We occasionally hold a yoga class in our Charlotte chiropractic office for just $5! Call us at (980) 422-2000, or check out our events calendar to find out when the next session will be held and reserve your spot!

Most people hear the word “chiropractic,” and they automatically think of someone who cracks their neck or back to manage or eliminate pain. But there is much more to this form of neuromuscular therapy than simply pain management.

Receiving care from a Charlotte chiropractor has many health benefits, some of which will likely surprise you!

Benefit #1: Improved immune system function

The nervous system is the body’s central hub for controlling all other system functions. When your spine is out of alignment, your nerves may endure pressure, resulting in weakened impulses to the body’s organs. It’s those impulses that give your organs the “signal” to function in certain ways, so when those signals are weakened, it can wreak havoc on your body’s overall function, but especially on that of your immune system.

Benefit #2: Better sleep

Care from a chiropractor in Charlotte NC is very effective at relieving stress and anxiety. As your spine is realigned, the nerve impulses that control the release of essential hormones in your body get stronger, which can result in greater alertness and improved clarity during the day, and a better night’s sleep.

Benefit #3: Fewer allergies

Improved immune system function also results in the body’s allergic response to foreign invaders, which means you experience the symptoms of allergies less often. Even during seasonal transitions. 🙂

Benefit #4: Improved digestion

As is the case with your immune and endocrine systems, proper spinal alignment strengthens nerve signals that control your digestive system function, leading to improved digestion with each adjustment.

Benefit #5: Ability to diagnose and treat ear infections in children

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them a few Charlotte chiropractic visits can result in the diagnosis and treatment of ear infections in children (and even adults). As a family-centered practice, we see children with ear infections all the time, and they somehow manage to get better without antibiotics or prescription meds. (Things that make you go, “hmm…”) 😉

Charlotte chiropractic care during pregnancy helps to keep the body properly aligned, resulting in a much more comfortable experience, which, more often than not, results in babies being carried to full term. Also, because it alleviates stress, seeing a chiropractor during your pregnancy can help improve sleep in later trimesters, while lessening your chances of preterm labor. A chiropractor is also able to use various techniques to turn babies out of a breech position.

We’ve had mamas at Queen City Health Center express on multiple occasions their belief that receiving care throughout pregnancy also resulted in a shorter labor, with fewer medical interventions, as well as an easier birth.

Do you see a chiropractor for anything other than pain management? What issues have you found to improve upon receiving care? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below!

No one can argue the health benefits of eating more greens. When you were told as a kid to “eat your vegetables,” there was a good reason for it! Leafy greens are among the healthiest foods on the planet. Full of nutrients and fiber, yet low in calories, they can be consumed in small amounts and still leave you feeling satiated. Or you can eat them by the pound if you wish—you won’t hear any objections from me!

Now for the hard part: you may detest the taste of greens. So how do you get them into your diet when you can’t stand to swallow them without gagging? Here are a few “tricks of the trade,” if you will. Some of my best-kept secrets for getting more healthy, leafy green vegetables into anyone’s diet, whether you LOVE eating kale and spinach, or you dread it like a 4-year-old who was just sent to his room with a plate of broccoli and told he couldn’t have a cookie until he finished it…

Tip #1: Drink a green smoothie for breakfast.

Before you dismiss this as a terrible idea, there are some great ways to mask the taste of kale and spinach in your breakfast smoothie. Add a banana and a splash of your favorite fresh-squeezed fruit juice, and I guarantee you won’t even be able to taste the greens. Or try a scoop chocolate protein powder with banana and almond butter. You could even do a plant-based protein, as those usually already contain greens of some sort already.

#2: Add spinach to your scrambled eggs or pancakes.

You can blend the spinach into the pancake batter (again, you won’t even be able to taste it.) Or if you don’t mind the taste, scrambled eggs with spinach sautéed in is one of my favorite morning meals.

#3: Eat green vegetables as a side with dinner.

Broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, peas, asparagus, spinach … the options are endless. This trick is more for those crazy people who actually like green veggies. (Raises hand.)

#4: Take a “green” supplement.

Maximized Living Max Greens are chock full of green superfoods to boost your immune system and aid your body in natural detoxification. If you don’t like eating your greens, you can always drink them or take them in pill form instead! However, we do recommend trying to at least get in some real, leafy greens with at least one your meals every day. Supplements are great, but they should not be used as an excuse to skip out on your vegetables!

#5: Eat a mixed greens salad for lunch.

This, along with a good green supplement, is a great way to ensure you get enough greens into your diet. Of of my favorite recipes: raw, mixed greens topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, crumbled goat cheese, avocado, and drizzled with olive oil and sea salt. YUM!

What are some other ways you manage to sneak more green veggies into your diet? Share your tricks with us in the comments section below!

Queen City Health Center is a Charlotte Chiropractic and total wellness center for individuals and families. With locations across Charlotte, NC and Matthews, NC, we specialize in helping individuals and families find true health and ways to maximize their lives through nutrition, lifestyle classes, detoxification and spinal correction.